Month: July 2022

Perfectionism is a myth: Are you ready to hear the truths about perfectionism?

Physician
July 25, 2022

Are you a perfectionist?

Did you know that perfectionists are actually some of the biggest procrastinators? Yes, really.

In theory, perfectionism sounds like a good thing. Who doesn’t want to do and be their best? It can even seem like a harmless way to motivate yourself.

But the reality is, nothing is perfect.

What does “perfect” even mean? What does it look like? Who has the instruction manual?

It’s different for everyone. What’s “perfect” in …

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Ergonomics: How to live pain-free and have a long surgical career 

Physician
July 24, 2022

Ergonomics is the study of how humans and machines interact. More specifically, it addresses the interplay between humans and machines through an examination of optimal positioning of equipment and personnel to allow for the most efficient work play and use of time and space. With its study and importance growing in scope following the invention of the assembly line by Henry Ford in 1913, ergonomics has now found itself as …

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The importance of non-judgmental empathy

Physician
July 24, 2022

It has always been difficult for medical professionals to balance the time needed for personal care, both physical and emotional, against the overwhelming demands of their time. This is particularly true today, given the extraordinary pressures created by health challenges generated through external factors, such as the pandemic and those caused by genetics or lifestyle choices. However, focusing on this balance is critical for the welfare of both the doctors …

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To fight medical student burnout, focus less on the clinic and more on life

Education
July 24, 2022

Medical training has historically been known for its intensity, during which work-life balance is traded in for intensive study sessions and early morning rounds. In recent years, medical schools have become increasingly interested in programs to improve student wellbeing. Many of these programs teach students the importance of wellness, touting the value of exercise, hobbies, and spending time with friends and family without providing the time …

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Guns and public health advocacy [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 23, 2022
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD.

“Nineteen children were killed in a mass shooting in Texas. I have barely escaped the pandemonium of the pediatric emergency department to scarf down a bowl of pasta when I hear the announcement on the breakroom TV. My stomach drops. Again? How is …

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A new kind of metric in medicine

Physician
July 23, 2022

Today, I propose a new kind of metric in medicine.

I know. I know. (I hear the uncomfortable clearing of your throats.)

On one side of the room: Of course we are human, are we not?

On the other: Here we go again, Doctor Touchy-Feely. Let’s get on with it. I’ve got work to do.

But what if …

We rewarded a “chief complaint,” written as a patient concern or a family observation, features fleshed …

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Post-Roe, miscarriage is more dangerous

Physician
July 23, 2022

If guilt were an Olympic sport, mothers would win every medal. We worry we should have prevented our children’s problems or might have even caused them. Mothers tiptoe through a minefield of complex personal, family, and societal expectations that no one escapes unscathed.

As an OB/GYN resident, I sought extra training to care for mothers experiencing miscarriage and stillbirth. Miscarriage occurs in 1 in 4 pregnancies due to early genetic Read more…

A gastric bypass might help some people bypass cancer

Conditions
July 23, 2022

In an exciting recent study, researchers found that for adults with obesity, weight loss through bariatric surgery lowered their risk of cancer by 35% and reduced their risk of cancer-related death by 43%. This was true of both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries, and the results were observed ten years after patients’ procedures.

This is great news for people who have seen weight-loss success through bariatric surgery. The study …

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Why are women leaving medicine? Gaslighting.

Physician
July 22, 2022

Not a week goes by that I don’t have a conversation with an amazingly successful women physician who states: “I’m thinking of quitting.” They are succeeding in all their goals: leadership, family, practice improvement, the highest level of patient care, contributing meaningful research and/or teaching, and even getting some homemade muffins or a bottle of cherry wine from patients on occasion.

Why would someone in this situation feel so dissatisfied to …

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How doctors should organize

Physician
July 22, 2022

Eric Topol wrote an excellent op-ed in the New Yorker titled “Why Doctors Should Organize.” I’m going to spell out exactly how they should organize.

Doctors should form a nationwide class-action lawsuit against the major EHR companies for cognitive repetitive-strain injury. They can easily prove lost wages and mental strain from technical debt in the software interfaces they are being forced to use.

They should demand …

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A cancer patient’s last wish

Physician
July 22, 2022

It’s not a good feeling when you cannot do too much for your patient as a doctor. That’s how I felt when I walked into the room to see Valerie for the first time.

She was in her 60’s. She was flanked by her two adult granddaughters, who were very close to their grandma. You could tell that at some point in her life when she was younger, she may have …

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Nothing is sacred: Changing CPR algorithms can be a rude awakening

Conditions
July 21, 2022

It always makes my heart sink when the CPR guidelines change.

In 1980 I became a provider of advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) as certified by the American Heart Association.  This was a great move.  Through my internship and the many years that followed, it proved comforting to know that  I would act decisively and with confidence in the setting of a cardiorespiratory arrest.  The ACLS course dictated dogmatic protocols – …

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How our sickest patients mirror the political divisions of our country

Policy
July 21, 2022

I was on service as the attending physician recently, and it struck me how closely our sickest patients in the intensive care setting mirror the political mires of our country.

Usually, when I’m on service, it’s an all-consuming matter, with little time for media and external affairs. However, this time it was different: history in the making with a Supreme Court decision that eviscerated a woman’s right to choose, to care …

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A child psychiatrist on Sarah Silverman’s The Bedwetter

Physician
July 21, 2022

As a child psychiatrist, it was such a pleasure to see a play about a child who suffers psychologically and finds a way to heal that does not require an epic quest, a magical ability,  becoming a princess, or even fixing the problem itself.

Sarah Silverman’s delightfully witty, dirty, and wordy musical, The Bedwetter, which ends its run today, features a spunky and irreverent 10-year-old girl with typical tween issues. A …

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The claims data dilemma: 4 things to consider

Policy
July 20, 2022

I recently met with leaders of provider organizations representing a range of specialties and geographies. One of the themes that came through loud and clear was their ongoing struggle to obtain claims data from their payers. As providers continue their efforts to navigate alternative payment models (APM), their need for global claims data becomes a more pressing issue.

Why claims data is important to providers

Many providers are still in a position …

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Why doctors are increasingly investing in real estate

Finance
July 20, 2022

With many health care systems around the world an elaborate mess, real estate can be an efficient strategy for doctors to ensure their financial future after retirement. They can benefit from long-term appreciation and tax breaks by investing in real estate.

As economies and technologies continue to evolve, many physicians have started buying real estate for investment purposes. Some doctors choose to invest their money in real estate to diversify their …

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A bullied medical assistant’s tragic story [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 19, 2022
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD.

“Today, I’d like to tell you the story of one who was exemplary. He was never late to work. He never came in and insisted on finishing his breakfast at his desk before rooming our first patient. He was so personable that they …

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